The present paper reports the comparative optical behavior of a pure nematic mixture E-24 and its anthraquinone dye doped sample. The variation in the ordinary and extraordinary refractive index ($n_o$, $n_e$) of the pure and dye doped samples with temperature has been discussed and it has been found that doped sample have a less refractive index compared to the pure sample. The variation in the order parameter for pure and doped samples with temperature has been discussed and it has been seen that the doped sample has a higher order parameter; the possible reasons have been discussed. The variations in birefringence and optical transmittance have also been presented here.